How can a Barrister help me?
Barristers are specialist legal advisers and court room advocates. They are independant lawyers with specialist knowledge and experience in and out of court, which can make a substantial difference to the outcome of a case.
Advice from a barrister at an early stage of a dispute can help to avoid unnecessary and costly litigation. But if the dispute continues, a well-argued case and good cross-examination can make all the difference to the final outcome.
The BENEFITS to you by using the direct services of barristers:
• Lower costs – Barristers tend to cost less than people expect and often less than solicitors. This is because barristers do not have the level of overheads that solicitors have so they can charge less. When you pay a barrister you are paying for their time and expertise – not the cost of running an office, secretarial costs, etc.
• Fixed fees – Barristers have been providing their services at fixed fees for years. Knowing the cost in advance of the work being undertaken is a crucially important factor for you to bear in mind. Fixed fees enable you to accurately plan a budget and avoid nasty surprises later on by receiving a bill that you were’t expecting. We find that clients prefer ‘peace of mind’ to the unknown!
• Legal expertise – Barristers are experts in their chosen areas of law. They advise on the strengths and weaknesses of a claim, draft legal documents, write letters on your behalf, negotiate settlements and skillfully represent clients before courts and tribunals.
• Speed of service – Barristers have specialist legal knowledge and skills which mean they are able to provide solutions to legal problems quickly and efficiently.
A barrister can help you by…
• giving expert legal advice on an issue
• drafting second opinions where other lawyers have already been involved
• identifying any weaknesses in your case and make it as strong as it can be
• drafting your statement and those of your witnesses
• advising you on the right choice of expert witness
• negotiating with the other side
• representing you before a court or tribunal